Electric cut-out



July 4, 1939. N K 2,164,994

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT Filed July 14, 1937 Inventor: George F Lincks,

10 g His Attorn qg.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES ELECTRIC CUT- OUT George F. Lincks, Pittsfield, Mass, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application July 14, 1937, Serial No. 153,508

37 Claims.

The present invention relates to electric cutouts and has for one of its objects the provision of improvements in fuse cutouts of the automatic circuit reclosing type.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a circuit reclosing unit of improved construction and arrangement of parts for use in an electric cutout.

Other objects and the details of that which I believe to be novel and my invention will become apparent from the following description and the claims appended thereto taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. While my invention may be incorporated in cutouts of either the open type or the enclosed type,-I have chosen,

as the best means of conveying a complete understanding of all features of the invention, to illustrate an exemplary embodiment thereof as incorporated in an enclosed fuse cutout of the drop-out type.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 shows the parts of the cutout in normal operative position; Fig. 2 shows the relative positions of the parts of the cutout after operation of one of the fuses; Fig. 3 shows in part the positions occupied by the fuses after drop-out following operation of the final one of the fuses; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged exploded view of certain of the supporting and circuit reclosing parts. R I Referring to the drawing, l indicates an eleo tric cutout casing of the type commonly employed in non-reclosing fuse cutout-installations. This casing is constructed of porcelain or other suitable insulating material and has an integrally formed electric creepage and gas barrier ll disposed between stationary line terminal contacts l2 and I3 carried by the casing. To the rear of the casing is secured amounting bar It for the attachment of the casing to an electric line pole 40 and cross-arm structure or the like. A hinge bracket l 5 is secured to the inner face of the rear wall of the casing adjacent the bottom thereof and is provided with a stop l6 for engagement by a dropped out fuse holder assembly. Contacts 45 I2 and 13 are adapted to have line conductors or leads fastened thereto by means of clamping screws l2 and I3. respectively, and upper contact H has a contact finger I! backed up by means of a spring strip it, which serves to press 50 the finger I'l downwardly, and has also a pair of 2| of the expulsion type which consist of fuse tubes or housings of insulating material having contact caps 22 and 23 respectively secured to the upper ends thereof and which have fuse links disposed therein with the upper ends of 'the fuse links connected respectively to the caps 22 and 23 and the lower ends of the fuse links extending out of the bottoms of the fuse tubes as indicated at 24 and 25 respectively. Although in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, only two fuse holders are employed, it will become apparent from the ensuing description that the present invention may be carried out with more than two fuse holders, if desired.

Fuse holders 20 and 2| are held fixedly in parallel juxtaposition or side by side relationship by means of a clamping element 26 which has socket openings for receiving the fuse holders and which is held tightly in engagement with the fuse holders by a rivet, screw or other suitable means, as indicated at 26', thereby preventing lateral as well as longitudinal displacement of the holders relative to each other. The fuse holders and the clamping element constitute part of a unitary fuse assembly which is removably supported in casing ID by means of a lever 21 one end of which has a pair of upwardly extending spaced arms 21' arranged on opposite sides of clamping element 26 and pivotally attached to the clamping element by means of pin 28 and the other end of which lever has a hook-shaped portion 29 for detachable hinged engagement with a hinge pin 30 carried by the hinge bracket, [5. Lever 21 is normally latched in rigid relation to fuse holder 20 by fuse link extension 24 which is drawn taut and anchored to the lever by means of a suitable form of clamping device, indicated at 3|, and which extension is passed around a projection 32 on the lower end of the lever. When the lever is hingedly attached to bracket I5 and is held in rigid relation to fuse holder 20 by fuse link extension 24, the unitary fuse assembly may be swung upwardly into its normal operative position illustrated in Fig. l, the fuse holders being supported in alinement normal to the rear wall of the casing so that they may be accommodated between the relatively closely spaced side walls of the casing. Under these conditions contact cap 22 of fuse holder 20 is latched between spring contact fingers Ill with contact finger l'l pressing downwardly on the top thereof. Thus, the upper end of the fuse link in fuse holder 20 is normally connected with upper stationary contact i2. For connection of the lower end of the fuse link in fuse holder 20 with lower stationary contact l3,

a contact engaging arm is pivotally mounted on a pin 34 extending between the arms 2'11 of the hinge lever and is biased to engage contact it by means of a coil spring 35. A flexible shunt strip 36 of high conductivity metal is connected between the hinge lever and the contact engaging arm to provide a good conducting path between fuse link extension 26 and the contact engaging arm. Thus, normally the fuse link. in fuse holder 20 is electrically connected between stationary contacts l2 and i3.

A cutout casing door lu is attached to the fuse holders by means of a pin ll which is carried by projections 32 on the door and which engage fuse holder 2i adjacent the bottom thereof, and also by means of a quick releasable latch comprising a Wire yoke 63 which engages contact cap on fuse holder 2i and which is pivotally attached to an anchor plate 34 fastened to the inner face of the door. This wire yoke serves also to hold the contact cap tightly against a spring strip Q5 of high conductivity metal. Anchor plate All is provided also with a pair of spring contact arms 36 which are arranged to engage stationary contact fingers ill. Thus, a good electrical connection is provided from the upper end of the fuse link in fuse holder 2i through contact cap 23, strip 55, anchor plate i l, arms l6 and contact fingers it to upper contact 82.

Fuse cutout casings, as ordinarily employed in non-reclosing fuse cutout installations, are rel-: atively shallow since it is necessary for them to accommodate only a single fuse holder. Such casings would have insuficient depth to accommodate a plural fuse holder assembly of the type illustrated. One of the important features of the present invention is the provision of a circuit reclosing fuse unit which may be employed to convert a non-reclosing fuse cutout to a. reclosing fuse cutout without modification of the cutout supporting structure. To this end door lu is of special design with a recess ll in its inner face for the accommodation of fuse holdler 20 which would project beyond the open side of a cutout casing, such as the one illustrated, of the type ordinarily provided in non-reclosing cutout installations. Thus, it is made possible to install have the door properly close the open side of the casing to prevent exposure of the internal parts to adverse weather conditions. Since, with the arrangement just described some dimculty might be encountered in refusing, the attachment of the fuse holders to the door is accomplished in such manner, as hereinbefore described in detail, that merely by releasing yoke did from contact cap 23 the upper ends of the fuse holders may be released for swinging outwardly from the door recess 4'! so as to provide ready access to contact caps 22 and 23 for installation of fuse links in fuse holders 20 and ill.

Door 40 is provided also with an integrally formed barrier 48 arranged to cooperate with the fuse holder tubes and with cutout casing barrier ii to retard the passage of expulsion gases from the lower ends of the fuse holders upwardly around the upper fuse terminal means and upper stationary contact. On the outer face of the door there is formed an eyelet handle 39 which greases biased for clockwise rotation, as viewed in the drawing, relative to fuse holder 2i by means of a coil spring 5i, one end of which, shown in full lines in Figs. 1-3, engages lever 50, and the other end of which, indicated in broken lines in Figs. 1-3, engages a recess or ledge in the inner surface of the door. On the lower end of lever 58 is a fuse terminal clamp 52 for securing thereto the outwardly extending portion 25 of the fuse link in fuse holder 2H to hold the lever rigidly in an upright position against the action of spring 5!. The upper end of lever 593 is in the form of an L-shaped detent 53 arranged to be engaged by a contact arm 54% which is rigidly mounted on hinge lever 2i. However, when the fuse assembly is in its normal operative position illustrated in Fig. 1 and the hinge lever is held in rigid relation to fuse holder 2d, contact arm 541 is disposed in open circuit position out of engagement with detent so that fuse terminal 52 normally is electrically isolated from hinge lever 2i and stationary contact H3. The upwardly projecting vor detent portion 53 of lever till is substantially U-shaped and is arranged for receiving the lower end of against fuse holder 2d when lever 5d is held in upright position by means of the fuse link extension 25. Contact arm 56 also is in the form of a iJ-shaped element, as shown in Fig. 4. The spaced arms 53 and 59 of U-shaped element 56 are disposed on opposite sides of fuse holder Zil, while the curved connecting portion til between arms 58 and 595 is arranged to bear against fuse holder Zil when hinge lever 27 is latched to this last mentioned fuse holder.

When the fuse assembly is in the normal operative position illustrated in Fig. l, rupture of the fuse link in fuse holder Zil due to current overload or the like releases fuse link extension 241 thereby releasing hinge lever 27 for movement relative to fuse holder Zil. Thereupon, the pressure exerted by contact engaging arm 33 against stationary contact it due to the action of spring a causes the lower end of the assembly to swing outwardly relative to the casing and the movement of hinge lever 27! relative to fuse holder 20 aids in separating the ruptured ends of the fuse link in fuse holder 20. The outward swinging of the assembly moves the door to a partially open position wherein it gives indication of the operation of the first fuse while still protecting the internal mechanism from adverse weather conditions. When the assembly reaches the position illustrated in Fig. 2, contact arm 54 moves into locking engagement with the detent portion 53 of lever 50 to prevent further outward swinging of the assembly and also to reclose the circuit through the fuse link in fuse holder 2! by completing the electric connection between the fuse terminal 52 on lever 50 and the contact engagingarm 33 which is still in engagement with lower stationary contact I 3. The upper terminal means of the fuse assembly remains connected with upper stationary contact i2 so that the? circuit extends from upper stationary contact l2 through contact fingers ill and 19, contact arms 46, anchor plate, spring arm 45, contact cap 23, the fuse link in fuse holder 2! and fuse link extension 25, fuse terminal clamp 52, lever 50, contact arm 54, the arms ill of the hinge lever, shunt strip 36 and contact arm 33 to lower stationary contact l3.

In case of continuing or recurring overload or I aromas fault current, the fuse link in fuse holder 2| operates to release fuse link extension 25, thereby releasing lever 50. Thereupon, lever 50 is rotated in a clockwise direction by spring ii to remove the detent portion 53 from locking engagement with contact arm 54 so that furtherpivoting of hinge lever 21 with respect to the fuse assembly may take place. The lower end of the fuse assembly then moves outwardly and downwardly, due to gravity, and also due to the pressure exerted by contact engaging arm 33 against contact I3, until contact cap 22 disengages from contact fingers 19. The fuse assembly is then free to swing under the influence of gravity to dropped-out position wherein the upper terminal means of the assembly and the contact engaging element 33 are disconnected from upper stationary contact l2 and lower stationary contact l3 respectively, as indicated in Fig. 3.

For refusing, the hinge lever is disengaged from hinge pin 30 and the fuse assembly removed from the cutout casing. The upper ends of the fuse holders are then swung outwardly relative to door recess 41, after release of latching yoke 43, for removal of contact caps 22 and 23 and replacement of ruptured fuse links in the fuse holders with new fuse links. After replacement of contact caps 22 and 23 and latching of the fuse holders to the door by means of yoke 43, lever 50 is rotated to its upright position and secured therein by drawing fuse link extension 25 taut and anchoring it to terminal clamp 52 on the lower end of the lever. Hinge lever 2! is fastened rigidly with respect to fuse holder by passing fuse link extension 24 around projection 32 and anchoring it to the lever by means of terminal clamp 3|. The fuse assembly then may be installed in the cutout casing bymounting thehookshaped portion 29 of lever 21 on hinge pin 30 .and swinging the assembly upwardly until coirtact fingers i9 engage contact cap 22 to latch the assembly in the normal operative position shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that I have provided a circuit reclosing apparatus which has an improved construction and arrangement of parts and which may be furnished to electric operating companies and the like in the form of a single unit embodying a plurality of fuse holders and means for detachably mounting the fuse holders and circuit reclosing mechanism with thenecessary connection means on a cutout supporting structure of standard design. Such a unit has, among others, the important advantages that it may be used in an electric cutout as a replacement for similar units and may be made interchangeable with fuse units of the non-reclosing type so that, without modification of the cutout supporting structure and stationary contacts carried thereby, an electric cutout of the non-reclosing type may be converted readily to one of the reclosing type, or vice versa, without the necessity for removal of the cutout supporting structure from the line pole or the like upon which the structure is mounted in the field. v

It will be apparent also to-one skilled in the art that my present inventiongin its broader aspects is not limited to the particular details of the exemplary cutout illustrated. For example, the present invention may be practiced to advantage in the manufacture of circuit reclosing units for cutouts of the open type. Also, the mounting means of the fuse assembly may assume any of the forms disclosed in U. S. letters Patent Nos. 2,081,814 to B. R. Hermann, and 2,081,826 to G. F. Lincks, and in the copending application, S. N. 153,529, filed July 14, 1937, of R. S. Bennett, which patents and application are assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Moreover, certain of the broader aspects of the present invention may be carried out in the manner disclosed in the above referred to Bennett application, or in the copending application of L. P. Sohles, S; N. 153,568, filed 'July 14, 1937, which latter application also is assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

What I claim as new and desire 'to' secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In anelectric cutout, the combination with a casing having spaced stationary contacts, of a circuit reclosing fuse unit removably mounted in said casing and comprising a door for the casing, a fuse holder assembly attached to the inner side of said door and including a plurality of fuse holders and means supporting the holders in fixed juxtaposition relative to each other, means arranged to connect a fuse link in one of said holders between said contacts, a fuse terminal arranged for connection with a fuse link in another of saidholders and being normally isolated spaced contacts therein; said unit comprising in combination a door adapted to close the open front of a cutout or like casing, a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and means supporting said holders in substantially parallel juxtaposition on the inner side of said door, said supporting means maintaining said holders against substantial lateral movement relative to each other, means for quick detachable hinged mounting of said unit in .a cutout or like casing, means for establishing electric connection of a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing, and circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact element movable relative to said fuse holder assembly for completing electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder.

3. In an electric cutout, the combination of a casing having an open side, spaced stationary line terminals carried by the casing, a plurality of fuse holders supported in the casing, a door mov- I ably mounted for normally closing said open side of the casing, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said line terminals, and means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for eifecting outward movement of said door to a partially open position and for completing an electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said line terminals.

4. In an electric cutout, the, combination of means providing a casing having an opening in a side thereof, spaced terminals carried by said casing, a plurality of fuse holders supported in the casing, a cover movably mounted for normally closing said opening, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said terminals, and means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of said cover to an indicating position and for completing an electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said terminals.

5. In an electric cutout, the combination with a casing having an open side and spaced ter-' minals, of a unitary circuit enclosing fuse device removably supported in said casing and comprising in combination means including a movably mounted cover for normally closing said open side of the casing, a plurality of fuse holders supported on the inner side of said closing means, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said terminals, and means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of said cover to an indicating position and for connecting a fuse link in a second one of said holders between said terminals.

ii.v In an electric cutout, the combination of a casing, spaced stationary line terminals carried thereby, a fuse assembly'removably supported in said casing and including a door for the casing and a plurality of fuse holders attached to the door, means for connecting a fuse link in one of Said holders between said terminals, and means connected with said assembly for removal therewith operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of said door from closed position to a partially open position and for connecting a fuse link in a second one of said holders between said terminals.

7. In an electric cutout including a casing having an open side and spaced stationary line terminals carried thereby, the combination of a fuse assembly including. a plurality of fuses arranged to be connected successively between said terminals, means for removably mounting said assembly in said casing in an operative posit on wherein a first one of said fuses is normally connected between said terminals, said assembly being movable to a dropped out position wherein said fuses are disconnected from said terminals, a door movably mounted and arranged normally to close the open side of said casing, means operrable responsively to operation of a connected one of said fuses for connecting a succeeding one of said fuses between said terminals, means responsive to operation of one of said fuses for effecting movement of said door to an indicating position, and means responsive to operation of the final one of the fuses to be connected between the terminals for effecting movement of the assembly to its said dropped out position. I

8. In an electric cutout, the combination with a casing having an open side and spaced contacts mounted therein, of a door for closing said open side of the casing and cooperative with the easing to provide a fuse compartment, and a circuit reclosing fuse assembly supported in said oom- ,partment; said assembly including a plurality of fuse holders arranged for connection of fuse links therein between said contacts and circuit reclosing mechanism operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in one of said holders for completing an electric connection of a fuse link in another of the holders between said contacts; said" assembly having a portion protruding beyond the open side of said casing and said door holders, means greased having a recessed inner side for accommodation of said protruding portion of said assembly.

9. Ah electric circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation in a relatively shallow electric cutout or like casing having an open front and spaced contacts mounted therein; which said unit includes in combination a door adapted to close the open front of an electric cutout or like casing and having a recessed inner side, and a circuit reclosing fuse assembly supported with at least a substantial portion thereof accommodated in the recess in the inner side of said door; said assembly including a plurality of fuse holders, common supporting means therefor, means for effecting connection of a fuse link in one of the holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing, and circuit reclosing mechanism operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in one of said holders for completing a connection of a fuse link in another of the holders between such spaced contacts.

10. In an electric circuit reclosing fuse cutout, the combination with a casing having an open front and spaced contacts supported therein, of a door arranged to close the open front of said casing and having a recessed inner side arranged for cooperation with the interior of the casing to provide a fuse compartment, a plurality of fuse supporting said holders in said compartment in substantially parallel juxtaposition and substantial alignment normal to the rear wall of the compartment, and means operable for successively effecting electric connection of fuse links in said holders between said contacts.

ll. A circuit.reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having an open front and spaced terminal contacts supported therein; which said unit includes in combination a door adapted to close the open front of an electric cutout or like casing and having a recessed inner side, and a circuit reclosing fuse assembly supported with a portion thereof accommodated in the recess in said door; said assembly including a plurality of fuse holders, means supporting said holders in substantial alignment normal to the inner side of said door, and means operable for successively effecting electric connection of fuse links in said holders between spaced contacts in an electric cutout or like casing.

12. An electric protective unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having an open front and spaced terminal contacts supported therein; which said unit includes in combina n a door adapted to close the open front of an electric cutout or like casing and having a recessed inner side, and an electric protective assembly supported with a portion thereof accommodated in the recess in said door; said assembly including a plurality of current interrupting elements each having an elongated tubular housing, terminal means respectively for said elements, means supporting said elements with their said housings in juxtaposition and substantial alignment normal to the inner side of -said.- door, and means operable for efiecting electric connection of said terminal means with spaced contacts in an electric cutout or like casing.

13. In an-electrlc circuit reclosing fuse cutout including a casing having an open front and spaced terminal contacts supported therein, a cover for closing the open front of said casing, a plurality of fuse holders, means supporting said holders in said casing for connection of fuse links therein between said contacts, said supporting means being arranged to support said holders in substantially parallel side by side relationship with the axes of the holders in substantial alignment parallel to the side walls of said casing, and means operable for successively effecting electric connection of fuse links in said holders between said contacts.

14. In an electric protective device, the combination with an electric cutout or like casing having an open front and spaced terminal contacts supported therein, of a plurality of current interrupting elements each having an elongated tubular housing, terminal means respectively for said elements, means common to said elements for removably supporting the same in said casing with said tubular housings in substantially parallel side by side relationship and in substantial alignment normal to the rear wall of the casing, and means operable for effecting electric connection of said terminal means in a circuit including said contacts.

15. A circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for readily removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having an open front and spaced contacts mounted therein; which said unit comprises in combination a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means providing for readily removable mounting of said assembly in an electric cutout or like casing, and means including circuit reclosing switching mechanism operable for effecting successive connection of fuse links in said holders between spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing, said carrying and mounting means being arranged to maintain said holders normally. in substantially parallel juxtaposition and in substantial alignment normal to the rear wall of a cutout or like casing when said assembly is mounted in such casing.

16. An electric protective unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having an open front andspaced terminal contacts supported therein; which said unit includes in combination a door adapted to close the open front of an electric cutout or like casing, a plurality of electric protective elements having elongated tubular housings, terminal means respectively for said elements, means supporting said elements on the inner side of said door withsaid housings in substantially parallel side by side relationship and substantially aligned normal to the inner side of the door, and means operable for effecting electric connection of said terminal means with spaced contacts in a cutout or like housing.

17-. An electric protective unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casing having an open front and spaced terminal contacts supported in the casing; which saidunit .includes in combination a door adapted to close the open front of an electric cutout or like casing, a plurality of current interrupting elements having elongated tubular housings, terminal means respectively for said elements, means supporting said elements on the inner side of said door with said housings in substantially parallel juxtaposition and in substantial alignment normai to the inner side of the door, at least part of said housings being of the expulsion type and being arranged with the expulsion end thereof adjacent the bottom of said door, and means operable for eifecting l tr c co ection of said terminal means with spaced contacts in a cutout or like casing.

18. A circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation in an electric cutout or like casinghaving an open front and spaced terminal contacts supported therein; which said unit includes in combination a door adapted to close the open front of a cutout or like casing, a plurality of fuseholders, means common to said holders supporting the same on the inner side of said door with the holders in substantially parallel juxtaposition and substantial alignment normal to the inner side of the door, means for effecting electric connection of a fuse link in one tive position in said casing, means connecting the v upper ends of fuse links in said holders with said upper terminal means, means connecting the lower end of a fuse link in one of said holders with said lower terminal means, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting outward swinging of the lower end of said assembly, means for restraining the assembly in a second position with said j door partially open, and switching means operable responsively to outward swinging of the lower end of the assembly for completing an electric connection between said lower terminal means and the lower end of a fuse link in another of said holders.

20. An electric circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted for removable installation on a supporting structure having spaced stationary contacts; which said unit comprises in combination a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor,- said carrying means supporting said holders in substantially parallel juxtaposition and maintaining thev holders against substantial lateral movement relative to each other, means for quick detachable hinged mounting of said assembly on a supporting structure, means for establishing electric connection of a fuse link in one of said holders between spaced stationary contacts, and circuit reclosing mechanism including a switching element movable relative to said assembly for completing electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between spaced stationary contacts upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder.

21. A circuit reclosing. fuse unit adapted for removable installation on a supporting structure having spaced upper and lower stationary contacts; which said unit comprises in combination a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, said carrying means supporting said holders in substantially parallel juxtaposition and restraining the holders against substantial lateral movement relative to each other, means for quick detachable hinged mounting of said assembly on a supporting structure, said carrying and mounting means being arranged for supporting said holders in substantial alignment in a plane inter'secting spaced upper and lower contacts on a suporting structure, spaced terminal means for engagement respectively with spaced upper and lower contacts on a supporting structure, and means including circuit reclosing switching mechanism operable for effecting successive connection of fuse links in said holders between said terminal means.

22. In an electric. cutout, the combination with a supporting structure having spaced upper and lower stationary contacts, of a circuit reclosing fuse unit hingedly mounted on said supporting structure and comprising a fuse holder assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor arranged to support the holders in substantially parallel juxtaposition, terminal means for engagement respectively with said contacts, means for establishing electric connection of a fuse link in one of said holders between said terminal means, and circuit reclosing mechanism including a switching element movable relative to said assembly for establishing connection of a fuse link in another of 'said holders between said terminal means upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder, said assembly being arranged to move to a dropped out position, wherein said terminal means is disconnected from at least one of said contacts, upon operation of a fuse link in said other holder.

23. In an electric cutout, the combination with a supporting structure having spaced contacts, of a fuse assembly removably supported on said structure and including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for restraining said assembly in a normal operative position relative to said contacts, means for connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contacts, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of said assembly to a second position, and circuit reclosing switching mechanism including a contact element movable relative to said assembly for completing an electric connection of a fuse link in another of said holders between said contacts in response to movement of said assembly from its said normal operative position, said switching mechanism and said assembly constituting part, of a unitary circuit reclosing device for removable installation on said supporting structure.

24. In an electric cutout, the combination with a supporting structure having spaced upper and lower terminal means, of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means including a hingedly mounted lever pivotally connected with said assembly for supporting the assembly on said structure, means for restraining the assembly removably in operative position relative to said terminal means, means for connecting the upper ends of fuse links in said holders with said upper terminal means, means for connecting the lower end of a fuse link in one of said holders with said lower terminal means, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for effecting movement of the lower end of said assembly from a first to a second position relative to said supporting structure, means for restraining the lower end of the assembly in its said second position and circuit reclosing mechanism operable in response to movement of the lower end of the assembly from its said first position for establishing electric connection between said lower terminal means and the lower end of a fuse link in another of said holders.

25. In an electric cutout, the combination of spaced stationary contacts, aplurality of fuse holders, common supporting means for said holders including a hingedly mounted lever connected for movement relative to the holders, means for normally holding said lever and one of said holders in rigid relationship and arranged to be released by operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means for normally connecting a fuse link in said one holder between said contacts, means for connecting one end of a fuse link in a second of said holders to one of said contacts, a terminal associated with said second holder for connection with the other end of a fuse link therein and normally isolated from the other of said contacts, and circuit reclosing means including a normally open switch movable relative to said second holder in response to movement of said lever relative to said first holder for connecting said terminal with said other contact.

26. In an electric cutout, the combination of spaced stationary contacts, a fuse holder, means for connecting a fuse link in the fuse holder be- 'tween said contacts, means for supporting the fuse holder including a hingedly mounted lever pivotally connected to the fuse holder, means for normally latching the lever in rigid relation to the fuse holder and releasable upon operation of a fuse link in the fuse holder, means operable upon release of said holding means for effecting relative movement between the lever and the fuse holder, and circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact arm mounted on the lever and operable from an open circuit position to a circuit closing position upon movement of the fuse holder relative to the lever.

27. In an electric cutout, the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for supporting said assembly including a hingedly mounted lever pivotaliy connected with the assembly, means for holding said lever in rigid relation to the assembly and arranged to be released by operation of a fuse link in one of said holders, a contact terminal associated with the assembly for electrical connection with one end of a fuse link in another of said holders, and circuit reclosing mechanism including a contact arm mounted on said lever and operable into engagement with said terminal contact upon movement of the assembly relative to the lever for completing an electric connection to a fuse link in said other holder.

28. In a circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted to be removably mounted on a cutout supporting structure, the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, a hinge member pivotally attached to said assembly and adapted for mounting of the assembly on a supporting structure, means for holding said member in rigid relation to one of said fuse holders and arranged to be released by operation of a fuse link in said one fuse holder, and circuit reclosing mechanism operable for completing an electric connection through a fuse link in a second one of said holders including a switching element carried by said member normally disposed in open circuit position and operable to a circuit closing position upon movement of said member relative to said one fuse holder.

29. In an electric cutout, the combination of spaced stationary line terminal means, a movably for, means for holding said assembly in a first position with a fuse link in one of said holders connected between said terminal means, means operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for connecting a fuse link in another of said holders between said terminal means and for effecting movement of said assembly from said first position, detent means supported for movement with said assembly and movable relative to said other holder, means for holding said detent means normally rigid with respect to said other holder and arranged to be released by operation of a fuse link in said other holder, and means operably into locking engagement with said detent means upon movement of said assembly from its said first position for restraining the assembly in a second position, said assembly being movable from said second position upon release of said detent means due to operation of a fuse link in said other holder. I

30. In an electric cutout, the combination of stationary upper and lower line terminal means,

a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, means for removably supporting the assembly in normal operative position including a hingedly mounted lever pivotally connected'with the assembly, means for holding said lever normally in rigid relation to the assembly and releasable by operation of a fuse link in one of said holders, means for connecting a fuse link in said one holder between said terminal means, means operable upon release of said holding means for effecting outward movement of the lower end of said assembly, means including a normally open switch operable responsively to outward movement of the lower end of the assembly for connecting a fuse link in another of said holders between said terminal means, a detent supported for movement relative to the assembly, means for holding said detent in rigid relation to the assembly and releasably by operation of a fuse link in said other holder, means carried by said lever operable into locking engagement with said detent in response to outward movement of the lower end of the assembly for restraining the assembly in a second position, and means operable upon release of said detent holding means for effecting movement of said assembly from said second position.

31. In an electric cutout, the combination of a pair of spaced stationary contact means, a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders arranged to be connected successively between said contact means and common carrying means 'for said holders, terminal means associated with said assembly for connection with one end of a fuse link in each of said holders, means for supporting said assembly with said terminal means removably connected with one of said contact means, means for connecting the other end of a fuse link in one of said holders with the other of said contact means, circuit reclosing means operable for connecting the other end of a fuse link in an other of said holders with said other contact means in response to operation of a fuse link in saidone holder and means releasable by operation of a fuse link in said other holder for effecting movement of said assembly to an in-,

operative positionwherein said terminal means is disconnected from said one contact means. 32. In an electric cutout, the combination of a pair of spaced stationary contact means, a movably mounted fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, terminal means associated with said assembly for connection with one end of a fuse link in each of said holders, means for latching the assembly in an operative position with said terminal means removably connected with one of said stationary contact means, means for connecting the other end of a fuse link in one of said holders with the other of said stationary contact means, said latching means being releasable by operation of a fuse link in said one holder, means operable upon release of said latching means for effecting movement of said assembly -to a second operative position without disconnection ,of said terminal means from said one stationary contact means and for connecting the other end of a fuse link in another of said holders with said other stationary contact means, and means releasable by operation of a fuse link in said other holder for effecting movement of said assembly to an inoperative position wherein said terminal means is disconnected from said one stationary contact means.

33. In an electric cutout, the combination of a supporting structure having spaced stationary line terminal means, a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor arranged to hold the fuse holders in fixed side by side relationship, each of said holders having a fuse terminal adjacent one end thereof arranged to connect with one end of a fuse link in the holder, means for normally connecting said fuse terminals with one of said line terminal means, means connected with said as sembly at a point remote from said fuse terminals for removably supporting the assembly on said supporting structure, means for normally connecting the other end of a fuse link in one of said holders with the other of said line terminal means, and circuit reclosing means associated with said assembly operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for connecting the other end of a fuse link in a second one of the holders with said other line terminal means.

34. In an electric cutout including a supporting structure and spaced stationary contact means carried thereby, the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, said carrying means including an element provided with openings for receiving said holders and arranged to support the holders in parallel side by side relationship, said holders being restrained by said element against substantial lateral movement relative to each other, means connected for detachably supporting said assembly on said supporting structure, means for normally connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contact means, and circuit reclosing mechanism operable responsively to operation of a fuse link in said one holder for connecting a fuse link in a second of said holders between said contact means.

35. In a circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted to be removably mounted on a cutout supporting structure having a pair of spaced stationary contacts, the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and a fuse holder supporting element having sockets for supporting said fuse holders in parallel side by side relationship, said holders being restrained by said sockets against substantial lateral movementrelative to each other, means associated with said assembly for quick detachable mounting of the assembly on a cutout supporting structure, a pair of contact engaging means, means for con necting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contact engaging means, and automatic circuit reclosing mechanism associated with the assembly including a normally open switch operable for completing an electric circuit through a fuse link in a second one of holders upon operation of a fuse link in said one holder.

36. In a circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted to be removably mounted on a cutout supporting structure having spaced stationary contacts,- the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and a fuse holder clamp for holding said fuse holders in parallel side by side relationship, a lever element pivotally connected with said clamp and having means for detachable hinged connection with a cutout supporting structure, spaced contact engaging means", means for normally connecting a fuse link in one of said holders between said contact engaging means, and automatic circuit reclosing mechanism associated with said assembly including a contact element movable relative to the assembly from an open circuit position to a circuit closing position for completing an electric connection to one end of a fuse link in another of said holders.

area-pea 37. In circuit reclosing fuse unit adapted to be removably mounted on a cutout supporting structure having a pair of spaced stationary contacts, the combination of a fuse assembly including a plurality of fuse holders and common carrying means therefor, said carrying means including a clamp for maintaining the fuse holders in fixed relationship to each other, a lever pivotally connected with said assembly and having means for detachable hinged connection with a supporting structure, said lever being arranged to be held releasably in rigid relation to said assembly by a fuse link in one of said holders, spaced contact engaging means, means for normally connecting a fuse link in said one holder between said contact engaging means, a stop movably associated with the assembly and arranged to be heldreleasably in rigid relation to the assembly by a fuse link in a second of said holders, means operable into locking engagement with said stop upon movement of said lever relative to the assembly for holding the lever in a second position relative to the assembly, and a normally open switch operable responsively to relative movement apart of the lever and the assembly for completing an electric connection through a fuse link in said other holder.

GEORGE F. LING. 

